vander weyde



1N0 Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. H. 'VANDER WEYDE.

I APPARATUS FOR BRANDING IGE SLABS.

Patented Aug. 18,- 1896..

: NGRRIS vzrzns 00.. woraumoq WASHINGTON n c UNITED STATES PAT NTOFFICE.

HENRY VANDER VVEYDE, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR BRANDING ICE SLABS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 566,039, dated August18, 1896.

Application filed November 12,1895. Serial No. 568,6 80. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY VANDER WEYDE, artist and electric-lightphotographer, of 182 Regent Street, London,W., England, have invented anew and useful Improved Apparatus for Branding Ice Slabs, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improved apparatus for branding ice in theform of slabs (obtained by cutting up block-ice by means of apparatussuch as that forming the subject of another application for LettersPatent of the United States filed by me November 12, 1895, Serial No.568,679) with impressions of a trade-mark or ornamental device, theimpressions on the face of each slab corresponding in number andsituation to the cubes into which the slab is to be ultimately divided,so that each cube will bear an imprint on one, at least, of its faces.The branding is performed by bringing the ice slab into contact withwarmed dies, and as it is essential to the ultimate object in view thatthe operation should be performed as quickly as possible the apparatushereinafter described is designed specially for the purpose of enablingall the slabs into which the ice block is sawed to be applied quicklyand simultaneously to as many sets of branding-dies and as quicklywithdrawn therefrom and returned to the cutting-bench.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part ofthis specification, wherein Figure 1 shows a rear elevation, partly insection; Fig. 2, a cross-section on line 2 2, Fig. 1; and Fig. 3, a partplan of the apparatus for branding the slabs of ice. Figs. 4 and 5 areperspective views showing, on an enlarged scale, a tipping appliance forbringing the slabs to a superposed position and the device fordistributing the slabs upon the branding apparatus.

The same, letters of reference denote like parts in all the figures.

The slabs being juxtaposed and standing on edge as they leave the sawsit is first necessary to bring them tothe horizontal position, and forthis purpose the slabs l 2 3 4 5 6 are first slid onto the tipper F,Fig. 4,

which is merely an L-shaped plate, having projecting ends f, forminghandles by means of which it may be rocked about its corner, so as tobring the slabs from the verticaljuxtaposed position, Fig. 4:, to thehorizontal superposed position, Fig. 5.

G is a box-like holder open at the bottom, which is placed over theslabs so as to inclose them (but not thetipper F) for the purpose ofsliding the slabs collectively off the tipperv and distributing them onthe branding app aratus by a horizontal sliding movement.

The branding-table comprises a step-like series of supporting-surfaces Hto H, the first, H, being flush with the table on which the tipper F isused, and the others being arranged in a series of steps correspondingto or slightly exceeding in height the thickness of the ice slabs 1 2 34c 5 6. The holder G is provided with lateral flanges g, correspondingto the inclination of the sides H of the branding-table between whichthe holder G is re oeived and on the inclined edges of which the flangesg are adapted to rest and slide.

The holder G is closed at top, its sides being less in depth than thetotal height of the collective slabs by nearly but not quite thethickness of a slab, so that, while the whole of the slabs may be slidtogether as one, the holder will be raised so as to clear the steps asits runners g slide upon the inclined sides of the table. That side ofthe holder G which is rearmost in descending is furnished with adownwardly-projecting finger g, andv a notch h is formed in the roundededgeof each step to give passage to said finger, the object of which isto enable the holder G to remove the ice slabs as itdescends the guidesH.

The supporting-surfaces H to H are preferably perforated or madegrid-like, allowing the passage of the branding-dies i, of which, in theexample shown, there are thirty-six in each step. These dies correspondin number and position to the cubes into which the slab is to beultimately divided, and they are preferably formed by stamping up insheet metal and plated to prevent rust. They have embossed upon theirupper faces the trade-mark or other device which it is desired toimpress upon the ice, and they stand up from a boxlike heater I, whosetop is stepped to correspond to the surfaces H to H of thebranding-t-able. The faces of the dies are normally below the level ofthe ice-supportin g surfaces I-I H and the heater I is mounted to slidein vertical guides and is adapted to be lifted by a treadle-m otion Jand connections,as shown. The heater I may be a water or steam heatedbox, preferably divided by cross-partitions a" into compartmentscorresponding to the steps and separately supplied by circulation-pipes,or, preferably, the heater I is warmed by gasfiames burning in eachcompartment, the division of the heater into compartments serving toprevent unequal heating. As it is important that the temperature of theworking compartment should not exceed centigrade the heater should belagged with some nonconducting and non-absorbent material to preventradiation of heat, and the flames should be carefully regulated and keptunder control. Transversely-slopinggutter-grooves between the rows ofdies lead to inclined gutters by which the water resulting from themelting of the ice in branding is carried to a drain-pipe 1?, so thatthe production of vapor in the apartment and condensation of moisture onthe ice is avoided as far as practicable. The temperature of the heaterneed not in general exceed centigrade or thereabout.

sively arrested by the risers of the steps and deposited on the surfacesH to H, the lowermost slab being first arrested, and so on successively.Fig. 1 shows the position when three of the slabs have been sodeposited. The whole of the slabs having been thus placed in position,the heater I is raised, by the treadle or other means, so as to causethe dies to project through the branding-table and bring them intocontact with the lower faces of the whole of the ice slabs. The purposeof performing the operation in the upward direction is to allow theresulting water to drain away from the ice and leave clear impressionsof the dies.

It will be obvious that the described construction is susceptible ofmodification without departing from the invention.

After thus branding the slabs on their lower faces the holder G isreplaced over the uppermost slab and slid down the inclined sides H,whereby the slabs are collected from the table into the holder G intheir original position and order, Fig. 1 representing also the positionafter four slabs have been thus collected. The superposed slabs are thenready to be returned to the saw-bench for cutting transversely into twodirections, first into prisms and then into cubes.

I claim- 1. Apparatus for branding ice slabs, consisting of a steppedseries of supporting-surfaces for the slabs and of corresponding sets ofdies adapted to pass through the slab-supports and to be brought intocontact with the ice slabs thereon and means for effecting the passageof the dies through the slab-sup ports, as specified.

2. Apparatus for branding ice slabs, consisting of a stepped series ofsuporting-sur- I faces for the slabs, corresponding sets ofupwardly-projecting dies arranged beneath and adapted to pass throughthe slab-supports, a heater upon which said dies are fixed and means foreffecting the passage of the dies through the slab-supports, asdescribed.

3. Apparatus for distributing superposed ice slabs on, and collectingthem in superposed order from, a stepped series of supportingsurfaces,comprising a stepped series of supporting-surfaces, inclined guide-railsalongside of the stepped surface, in combination with a box-like holderopen at bottom, adapted to inclose the superposed slabs, as described,and to rest and run on the said inclined guiderails, the said holderhaving the side which is toward the higher end of the stepped surfaceprojecting downward below the opposite side and the risers of-thestepped surface being formed so as to allow such downward projection topass clear of them in the upward motion and to engage with the slabs onthe downward motion, as described.

HENRY VANDER IVEYDE.

In presence of G. F. WARREN, JOSEPH LAKE.

